§ Mr. McGOVERNasked the Secretary of State for India if his attention has been drawn to representations made by the Sikh Temple Management Committee to the Punjab and Burma Governments to the effect that 1914–15 Lahore and 2242W Burma conspiracy case prisoners should be set free; that the provisions of the Defence of India Act deprived them of the opportunity of appeal; that while origiNaily transported for life, namely, a sentence of 14 years, the prisoners have already served 17 years; and that most of them are over 60 years of age and in bad health owing to their long imprisonment; and will he consider the release of these prisoners as a contribution to goodwill between the Government and the Sikh community?
§ Sir S. HOAREI am aware that representations have been made by certain Sikh organisations, but they have not been referred to me by the authorities in India, and I propose to leave the matter to their discretion.